TOEFL iBT Overview

The term TOEFL is an acronym, which means that each letter stands for something. In this case,TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is created by an organization called ETS (Educational Testing Service), a professional test development organization, based in the USA. The TOEFL is an English proficiency test for non-native speakers of English. It measures a person's ability to read, write, speak, and understand English used in college or university. This means it concentrates on the formal academic English used in lectures as well as the informal English used in normal campus life by students, professors, and other college or university employees. Most people take the TOEFL to get admission into colleges and universities where English is used or required. Some people take the TOEFL to fulfill the requirements of a government department, licensing board, certification agency, or scholarship program. In fact, today more than 6000 colleges, universities, and licensing agencies in 110 countries accept TOEFL scores. Some career-minded students take the exam to improve their professional prospects by demonstrating their English language proficiency to future employers in their home countries. Although the TOEFL may seem like a difficult exam, preparing for it actually helps you to improve your English in very powerful ways. That's because studying at an English university is challenging you have to do lots of reading, complete many written assignments, papers, and projects, and also deliver oral presentations. So all of the skills tested on the TOEFL iBT are real skills which you will need. If you keep that perspective in mind, it will help you feel more positive about the whole experience and appreciate that these very skills will be essential for you in university and later, on the job.

TOEFL iBT Format

The TOEFL iBT is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours long, and is divided into four sections : 1. The first section is READING, which lasts about 60-90 minutes. 2. The second section is LISTENING, which lasts from 60-90 minutes !. Then you get lucky - you have a 10-minute break!! 3. The third section is SPEAKING, which is the shortest, about 20 minutes 4. The last section is WRITING, for which you have about 60 minutes. We'll be examining each of these sections in greater depth as we go along. Though the exam itself covers the four main skill areas, its important to remember that to get a high score in the TOEFl iBT, you need to master quite a few other skills in English. These include the secondary skills of grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation, as well as general academic support skills such as note-taking, keyboarding, mind-mapping, summarizing, paraphrasing, skimming, and so on.

TOEFL iBT Reading

The Reading section of the TOEFL measures your ability to read and understand passages in English. This is a critical skill because students in North American universities are expected to read (a lot!), and to understand, discuss, write about, paraphrase, and summarize the ideas they have read. The reading passages in the TOEFL iBT deal with subjects that students normally study in the first and second years of university. These include the natural sciences, social sciences, business, and the arts. The language used in the reading passages is formal and academic. Nevertheless, you don't need any specific subject knowledge to do well in the Reading section. Of course, if your subject is economics, and there is a passage about economics, then no doubt you will feel more comfortable but you don't need to have specific knowledge about economics to answer the questions.

In fact, the exam is testing your ability to read about different types of subject areas and still gain a basic, intelligent understanding of what has been written. The purpose of the passages may be to describe something, to make an argument, to provide historical information or to give a biography of someone's life. TWO POSSIBLE VERSIONS There are two possible versions of the TOEFL Reading Section: The short version The long version The reason for this difference is that ETS the makers of the TOEFL experiment with certain passages for future tests and students are the ones they experiment on. That's how it is. So that means you may get three passages to read on your exam, or you might get five. Also, you don't know which passages will be graded and which ones are experimental, so you have to do all of them as well as you can. So if you have the short format, you have three passages of 20 minutes each and 1214 questions each. That means this whole section would be 3 x 20 minutes, or 60 minutes long. If you have the long format, you could get two additional passages which would mean that this section would be 100 minutes in all.

TOEFL iBT Listening

The Listening section of the TOEFL iBT measures your ability to understand conversations and lectures in English. In this part of the TOEFL iBT, you will encounter two types of language: Informal, Non-academic, and Conversational- in the form of typical campus conversations for example, between two students, a student and professor, etc. Formal and Academic in the form of lectures from various fields of study such as natural sciences, social sciences, the arts and business. Again, you don't need any special knowledge to do well in this section. The entire listening section consists of 2-3 conversational passages and 4-6 lectures. This takes about 4060 minutes to complete because you could get some extra experimental listening passages. You hear the conversations and lectures only once but you are allowed to take notes. You will see the questions on the screen in addition to hearing them. In general, the questions in the TOEFL iBT Listening section fall into three categories: Basic comprehension questions Pragmatic understanding questions Connecting and synthesizing questions

TOEFL iBT Speaking Skills

The third section of the TOEFL iBT is the Speaking section. This part is made up of six tasks: two independent and four integrated. You do not meet a live examiner, but speak directly into a microphone. Your responses are recorded on the computer and then graded by two qualified evaluators. You are given from 4560 seconds to record your response. Because this time is relatively short, it is essential to practice extensively before appearing for the TOEFL. Recording and then listening to yourself can be helpful. However, this is one part of the test where you can benefit the most by working with an ESL teacher or joining aTOEFL exam preparation class because you need the objective feedback and advice. In general, speaking clearly, logically and simply are what matter most in the speaking section. Many students think they must use complex sentence structures and highlevel vocabulary to impress the examiner and then end up getting nervous and making

mistakes. Communicating simply and correctly in an organized way will get you a higher score every time. Remember, in this section of the test, more than any other, you can do very well if you learn how to implement the right strategies and conversely, you can lose points easily by not understanding all that is asked of you. INDEPENDENT TASKS The two independent tasks measure your ability to speak about a familiar topic. In other words, your own experience and ideas are the basis for your answer. You hear and see a question, you have 15 seconds to prepare your answer and you speak for 45 seconds. The first independent task usually requires you to do two things: 1. Describe a person, place, object or event that you know. 2. Give reasons why you chose this example. An example of the first independent question is: "Choose a teacher you admire and explain why you admire him or her. Please include specific examples and details in your explanation." (ETS) The second independent task presents you with two actions, options, situations or opinions and asks you to choose. You must: state which one you prefer explain why It doesn't matter which position you choose to support, but how clearly and how well you do so. An example of the second independent question type is: "Do you prefer to take essay exams or multiple choice exams? Use reasons to support your response."(Longman)

TOEFL iBT Writing

The last section on the TOEFL iBT is Writing, for which you have a total of 50 minutes. This part measures your ability to communicate clearly in writing and compose well-organized essays using correct grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and sentence structure. You are given two types of writing tasks: Integrated Independent In the integrated TOEFL writing section, you will be given a short reading passage and listening passage on the same topic. You can take notes during this time. Then you will be given 20 minutes to write an essay of about 150-225 words, explaining how the listening passage either supports the reading passage or contradicts the reading. The second part of the TOEFL Writing section is the independent essay. You are given one topic, and you have 30 minutes to write an essay of about 4-5 paragraphs, or 300-350 words. For key transition words and essay strategies which can earn you a top score in the independent essay, check the Writing Skills section.

TOEFL iBT Skills

The TOEFL exam tests four areas reading, listening, speaking, and writing but demands many more secondary and support skills. These include grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, note-taking, summarizing, synthesizing, outlining, skimming, scanning and mind mapping. TOEFL STUDY PLANS To score highly in the TOEFL exam, it is best to develop a systematic study plan. Guidebooks such as Barron's provide sample syllabus or study options you can follow. Their standard syllabus covers 80 hours in 16 weeks and their accelerated syllabus covers 80 hours in 8 weeks. They also provide an abbreviated syllabus for those who have limited time. Delta's Guidebook offers a 75-hour / 15-week preparation program. Aside from the main TOEFL guidebooks, you will benefit from referring to a number of ESL books which

focus on the development of specific skills such as skimming, scanning, note-taking, etc. By doing so, you will succeed in building a strong foundation of language and academic skills which will support you

TOEFL iBT - Primary Skills

To get a high score on the TOEFL, you need to master a number of overlapping language and academic skills. We have divided them here into primary, secondary and support skills. The primary skills correspond with the main sections of the TOEFL iBT exam reading, listening, speaking and writing. These are also the main linguistic skills important for effective communication, especially in an academic setting. The unique feature of the TOEFL iBT is that the primary skills are tested through independent as well as integrated questions, to simulate the way English is used in real life. The chart below explains where you will encounter such questions on the exam. Primary Skills for the TOEFL Skill Independent Questions Integrated Questions Reading Yes No Listening Yes No Speaking Yes Yes Writing Yes Yes For effective strategies you can use to develop each of the primary skills, continue here: Reading Skills Listening Skills Speaking Skills Writing Skills For information on the remaining skill areas, continue here: Secondary Skills Support Skills

TOEFL iBT Reading Skills

Reading is the first section of the TOEFL iBT. It includes 3 to 5 reading passages (about 700 words long) and 12-14 questions following each passage. You are given 60 -100 minutes to answer all the questions in the entire section. Do not be frightened if the subject of the TOEFL iBT Reading passage is unfamiliar to you. All of the information you need to choose the right answer is given. In addition, you will find the definition to some of the technical terms in the glossary that is available during the test. Skim through the passage to get the main idea and organization of ideas in the passage. Since you can reread the text while answering the questions, it's not necessary to read the passage in depth. This technique will enable you to devote more time to the question and answer choices. Nevertheless, if you're running out of time, guess at an answer, as it can only increase your score. On the TOEFL, there is no penalty for incorrect answers. QUESTION TYPES There are 10-12 different types of multiple choice TOEFL iBT reading questions. The way to get a high score is to become familiar with all types of questions. This will help you to narrow down the options and select the right answer. TOEFL iBT reading questions fall into three categories: basic information, inferencing skillsand reading to learn skills. These questions can be of different kinds: understanding facts and details identifying negative facts locating referrents understanding vocabulary in context

 making inferences determining purpose paraphrasing understanding coherence identifying main ideas following logic summarizing important points Each of the major TOEFL iBT guidebooks, such asETS, Delta, Barron's, Longman, Kaplan, andCambridge, provide you with lots of guidelines and practice in answering each of these questions. While completing their practice exercises and tests, it's helpful to keep track of the type of questions you tend to get wrong, so you can identify what you need to work on. TOEFL READING TIPS Learning and practicing certain reading and academic strategies can help you succeed on the TOEFL and after the TOEFL. While preparing for the test, read on a variety of topics to expand your vocabulary. You can read from textbooks, newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals and websites. Guess at the meaning of unfamiliar words and try to grasp the main idea even when you don't know the meaning of each word. Other skills worth developing include: pre-viewing, reading faster, using context, making inferences, skimming, scanning, making connections, summarizing, taking notes, and synthesizing. Improving each of these sub-skills will enable you to get a higher overall score in the reading section.

TOEFL iBT Listening Skills

The Listening section of the TOEFL, which lasts about 40-60 minutes, measures your ability to understand the English spoken in academic settings in North America. There are 6-9 listening tasks, which include the following: A minimum of 2 questions between two people - such as two students or a student and a professor, a librarian, a counsellor, etc; followed by questions A minimum of 2 lectures, followed by questions A minimum of 2 lectures, with student comments and questions interspersed, followed by questions You will need headphones for this portion of the test. You can adjust the volume during the test. You may also take notes at any time and use your notes to help you answer the questions. Your notes will be destroyed before you leave the exam hall. Each question in the TOEFL iBT Listening section must be answered before you can go on to the next question. You are not permitted to go back to previous questions once you have left a question. TYPES OF TOEFL LISTENING QUESTIONS TOEFL iBT listening questions fall into three different categories: basic comprehension questions pragmatic understanding questions connecting information question There are 6-7 different types of questions, as shown below: identifying the main idea determining the purpose understanding detail determining attitude understanding implication making inferences connecting content LISTENING TOPICS Most of the academic lectures featured in the TOEFL listening section are at a first-year

university level. Though the topics can cover a wide range of subjects, the typically fall into four major categories: arts, life science, physical science, and social science. Arts lectures may include architecture, music, literature, photography, urban planning, crafts, and indu

TOEFL iBT Speaking Skills

The third section of the TOEFL iBT is the Speaking section. This part is made up of six tasks: two independent and four integrated. You do not meet a live examiner, but speak directly into a microphone. Your responses are recorded on the computer and then graded by two qualified evaluators. You are given from 4560 seconds to record your response. Because this time is relatively short, it is essential to practice extensively before appearing for the TOEFL . Recording and then listening to yourself can be helpful. However, this is one part of the test where you can benefit the most by working with an ESL teacher or joining aTOEFL exam preparation class because you need the objective feedback and advice. In general, speaking clearly, logically and simply are what matter most in the speaking section. Many students think they must use complex sentence structures and highlevel vocabulary to impress the examiner and then end up getting nervous and making mistakes. Communicating simply and correctly in an organized way will get you a higher score every time. Remember, in this section of the test, more than any other, you can do very well if you learn how to implement the right strategies and conversely, you can lose points easily by not understanding all that is asked of you. INDEPENDENT TASKS The two independent tasks measure your ability to speak about a familiar topic. In other words, your own experience and ideas are the basis for your answer. You hear and see a question, you have 15 seconds to prepare your answer and you speak for 45 seconds. The first independent task usually requires you to do two things: 1. Describe a person, place, object or event that you know. 2. Give reasons why you chose this example. An example of the first independent question is: "Choose a teacher you admire and explain why you admire him or her. Please include specific examples and details in your explanation." (ETS) The second independent task presents you with two actions, options, situations or opinions and asks you to choose. You must: state which one you prefer explain why It doesn't matter which position you choose to support, but how clearly and how well you do so. An example of the second independent question type is: "Do you prefer to take essay exams or multiple choice exams? Use reasons to support your response."(Longman) INTEGRATED TASKS These tasks test your ability to integrate information from different sources. Two of the integrated tasks require you to read, listen, and speak. The other two integrated tasks ask you to only listen and speak. In the third TOEFL speaking task, you are first given 4045 seconds to read a short passage an announcement, a bulletin, a letter, etc. describinga campus-related issue. You then hear one or two students expressing their opinion about the issue. The question then asks you to integrate what you have read and heard by synthesizing or summarizing what the speaker said. It does not ask you f or your opinion.

In the fourth speaking task, you are given 40-45 seconds to read a short passage about anacademic subject. You then listen to a professor lecturing briefly about the same subject. Next, you are asked a question based on what you read and heard. In the fifth speaking task, you are not given a reading selection. You listen to a short conversation about a campus-related situation and then answer a question about what you heard. Specifically, you are asked to: describe the problem being discussed state which of the two solutions or options youprefer explain why you chose that option. You can justify your choice based on what the speakers said or on your own experience. The sixth speaking task is based on academiccontent. You listen to a brief excerpt from a professors lecture and are then asked to explain a point, giving examples from the lecture. It will be important for you to take notes here so that you can speak easily, confidently and comprehensively. It is best to prepare for each of the TOEFL iBT speaking tasks separately by doing as many practice sessions as possible, ideally with an experienced teacher at hand to give you valuable feedback.

TOEFL Speaking Tips

These valuable tips will help you get a much higher score on the Speaking section of your TOEFL exam. Use all of them, if you can, for a top score. Everything you need to do well on the TOEFL is right here: What to do: Structure your response as a mini essay. Make sure your response has an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Use transition words to guide your listener in a logical, organized way. Use clear English in a confident, expressive way. Simplicity is powerful. Give two or three reasons to develop your response and to avoid going round and round only one point. Use verbs rather than nouns. Verbs are more dynamic and make your English sound more interesting. Speak at an even pace. Its better to slow down and be completely understood, rather than rush and lose points because the examiner cannot understand your words. Say the endings of words fully. For example, Spanish speakers tend to leave off the endings of words and this can make it difficult to catch the words. They might be saying, custom but it sounds like custa. This can be confusing. Pronounce the t in words. It makes it easier for native speakers to understand foreign accents. An example is the word water. Say wah-ter. Avoid saying wadder or waher. What not to do: Dont waste time rephrasing the question. The examiner already knows what the question is. He or she wants to hear your response, right from the start. Avoid using words which are difficult to pronounce. You will waste time in correcting yourself if you cant say the words easily. For example, say chance instead of opportunity. Dont use higher-level vocabulary unless youre 100% sure of the meaning. Its better to present a response thats easily understandable rather than one thats vague and unclear. Dont use idioms at all, unless you are 100% sure of their meaning, and can use them in a grammatically correct way. Dont state exactly how many reasons you will provide because you may not have enough time to do so. Just say I like to dance for many reasons. or I prefer traveling

alone for several reasons. Then include as many reasons as you have time for. Usually this means two or three reasons. Dont worry about your accent. Just speak as clearly as you can. Dont go back and try to rephrase what you have said, unless you are correcting a grammatical error. Generally, you dont have time to say the same thing twi ce.

Free TOEFL Speaking Samples

An easy way to get a high score on the TOEFL independent speaking tasks is to think of your answer as a mini essay. Of course, you have only 45 seconds in total, so your introduction and conclusion may be only one line each. Even so, by including them, you provide a complete answer. INTRODUCTION: The introduction should immediately answer the question asked in the task. State clearly what you are going to speak about or what you prefer. This is like the thesis statement in an essay. BODY: The body is where you provide the reasons, details or examples to explain or support your answer. CONCLUSION: Your last sentence allows you to conclude in a logical, powerful and convincing way. Lets look at some sample TOEFL speaking tasks below. You can practice for your exam by reading the answers aloud. In this way, youll have a better idea how to structure your own answer on exam day. FREE TOEFL SPEAKING SAMPLE 1 - TASK 1 Describe something that you do to reduce stress. Explain why it is helpful. Include details and examples to support your answer. Introduction Reading books helps me to relieve stress like nothing else can. Body This is true for several reasons. First, when I read a book I mentally enter the world of ideas. I can forget my day-to-day worries. Second, from an emotional angle, reading is a solitary act. It enables me to spend time alone, away from others. This helps me feel more peaceful. Third, from a physical perspective, reading allows me to stop working and relax my body. At home, I like to read while lying in bed or on the sofa. Conclusion The act of reading transports me to another world. Thats why books are good friends and why reading is such an effective way of reducing my level of stress.

FREE TOEFL SPEAKING SAMPLE 1 - ANALYSIS The response above would get a high score for several reasons: What It answered the question fully. How It was grammatically correct. It used simple, clear vocabulary. Why It spoke about the actual topic, and not some other topic. It proceeded logically, from introduction to body to conclusion. It used transition words, such as first, second and third. It gave three reasons: mental, emotional and physical It gave three details /examples: to forget worries, to feel more peaceful, to lie on bed / sofa

The conclusion reinforced the fact that the speaker had understood the task clearly. Follow the links before for moresample TOEFL independent speaking samples: Free TOEFL Independent Speaking Samples - Task 1 Free TOEFL Independent Speaking Samples - Task 2

Free TOEFL Independent Speaking Samples - Task 1

TASK 1 - SAMPLE 1 What is the best quality of a good son or daughter? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice. Introduction I think the most important quality is kindness. Body This is because kindness automatically includes so many other qualities. First, kindness implies that a son or daughter is helpful to the parents. This is critical no matter how old the child is. Second, kindness means being respectful. There is nothing that touches parents hearts more than being treated well by a child. Conversely, nothing hurts parent more than when a child shouts at them. Last, kindness incorporates so many other positive traits such as thoughtfulness, cooperation, caring, compassion, understanding and so on. Conclusion In todays world, having loving parents is a blessing and children of all ages should honour that through their kind actions. TASK 1 - SAMPLE 2 What is your favourite day of the year? Use reasons to support your answer. Introduction My favourite day of the year is December 31. Body This is due to many reasons. Personally, December 31 is full of hope and promise for the year ahead. Like others, I love to make resolutions to improve myself in the coming year. December 31 makes everything seem possible. Professionally, since I have my own business, December 31 enables me to take stock of my strengths and weaknesses. It forces me to make better plans for the next year Socially, Dec 31 shows me who means the most to me because you usually think of those people on this day. It is a lovely time when people from around the world are united in joy. Conclusion All days in life are special but December 31 makes me feel the most optimistic, hopeful and thankful of all.

TOEFL iBT Writing Skills

The last section of the TOEFL is Writing, which lasts for about 50 minutes. It consists of two parts: the integrated writing task (150-225 words) and the independent writing task (300350 words). If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of writing so much in such a short time, remember that writing is a skill that can be developed. Many TOEFL guidebooks, such as Delta , Longman, Cambridge, and Barron's, present detailed strategies to help you organize and focus your writing. They also provide sample essays and an analysis of high- and lowscoring responses. In addition, you will need to work with an experienced TOEFL teacher or register in aTOEFL exam prep program so that you can receive corrections and meaningful feeback on how to improve and strengthen your writing skills. INTEGRATED WRITING The integrated writing task comes first and is organized in the following way:

You read a passage - 3 minutes You listen to a related lecture - 2 minutes You write an essay - 20 minutes In your response to the integrated question, you will be asked to summarize the points made in the lecture and either show how the lecture supports the points made in the reading passage or show how the lecture casts doubt on the points made in the reading passage. It is helpful to make notes of the main points as you read, though the reading passage does reappear when it is time to write. More importantly,you must make notes while listening, as you have only one opportunity to hear the lecture. Listen carefully for arguments, explanations andexamples which support or challenge the points made in the reading. It is essential that you take detailed notes while listening or you wont have enough material to write about. Your essay may be set up as one long paragraph or three paragraphs. In terms of organization, you have two ways in which you could structure your response: You could compare and contrast each point as you go along. For example, The readin g passage states that. , On the other hand, the lecture argues that . Alternatively, you could list all of the points made in the reading passage in one paragraph and all the points made in the lecture in the next paragraph. The Princeton Reviews Cracking the TOEFL iBT gives a detailed essay structure you could follow in developing your integrated answer. Bear in mind that for the integrated task, you are not being asked to give your opinion, but to relate what you have read and heard. Do only what the question asks you to do - no more and no less. INDEPENDENT WRITING The second task in the Writing section is the independent essay. You have 30 minutes to write a four or five paragraph essay (about 300-350 words) in response to a single question. The first thing you need to do is to identify the task clearly. The question may ask you to agree or disagree, make an argument, give an explanation or state a preference. Make sure you understand what you are being asked to do. The next point is to take up to 5 minutes to plan your essay. Sometimes students avoid doing this because they feel it will take away from the limited time they have to write the essay. However, by planning in advance, you focus first on what to write and can then concentrate on how best to express your ideas. You will also be able to organize your essay more effectively by setting out the points and examples in advance. Use concept maps, venn diagrams, mind maps or other brainstorming tools to help you conceptualize your essay. These planning techniques, along with practice exercises, are explained at length in Barron's How to Prepare for the TOEFL Essay . If, while planning, you discover that you cant think of enough reasons or examples to write a convincing essay, then you might consider adopting the opposite point of view. The emphasis is on generating lots of ideas and examples to write a strong essay, even if its not your true view on the subject. Having enough "meat" in your essay is more important than choosing a particular point of view. You then have 20 minutes to write your essay.After deciding on your approach, state your position clearly in the first line or at least in the first paragraph. The examiner should not be left guessing where you stand on the given topic. After the introductory paragraph, you need to write two or three supporting paragraphs, which provide reasons and examples, and last, the conclusion. Always begin your essay with a strong introduction and end with a powerful conclusion so that the first impression and the last one are powerful and convincing.

Try to allot about 5 minutes at the end to review your essay and correct any obvious spelling, grammatical or vocabulary errors. If you're running out of time, try to add at least a one-line conclusion, so that your essay gives the impression of being complete. Practice writing essays within the 30-minute time limit so that you feel comfortable doing so on the day of the test. Lastly, familiarize yourself with the full list of topics given in the ETS guidebook, The Official Guide to the New TOEFL iBT , so that you know the kind of topics to expect on your test.

TOEFL iBT - Secondary Skills

Secondary skills, such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling, are not tested in separate sections of the TOEFL, but are tested indirectly throughout the exam. Here are some examples of where and how these secondary skills may prove relevant: TOEFL Speaking: The six tasks require you to not only understand the question and respond logically, but also to enunciate clearly (pronunciation), use correct sentence structure (grammar) and express your opinions through a rich variety of words and expressions (vocabulary). TOEFL Writing: The mechanics of writing - grammar, spelling and punctuation are taken into account when awarding your cumulative writing score. TOEFL Reading & TOEFL Listening: Your command of vocabulary will assist you in responding to the reading and listening questions. Your knowledge of grammar may be critical to understanding exactly what is being stated.

TOEFL Grammar
Grammar is no longer tested directly on the TOEFL iBt. However, it is still important for you to be comfortable using a wide range of grammatical structures, which will be evaluated indirectly in the speaking and writing sections of the test. For example, in each of the six tasks in the speaking section, you have only one minute in which to express your ideas on a given topic. In that short time, you want to be able to speak confidently and clearly, without obvious grammatical errors, which could distort your meaning. According to the speaking rubrics, published by ETS, a respondent should "demonstrate effective use of grammar" and "exhibit a high degree of automaticity, with good control of basic and complex structures." Similarly, in the writing section of the TOEFL iBT, a level 5 essay is one which "displays consistent facility in the use of the language, demonstrating syntactic variety, appropriate word choice, and idomaticity, though it may have minor lexical or grammatical errors." There are many excellent grammar books on the market which you can use to perfect your grammar. Some favourites among ESL teachers are shown below. Author Azar, Betty Book Basic English Grammar Understanding and Using English GrammarUnderstanding and Using English Grammar Fundamentals of English Grammar Essential Grammar in Use Level Beg Inter Publisher Longman

Adv Murphy, BegCambridge Raymond Inter English Grammar In Use InterAdv In addition, various older TOEFL PBT and TOEFL CBT guidebooks review grammar points quite effectively, though perhaps in excessive detail. These include Barron's, Delta, Princeton Review, Cambridge and Kaplan. If you are looking for more focused grammar study, you may want to use Peterson's Peterson's Toefl Grammar Flash by Milada Broukal, which has short lessons to help you master essential grammar.

The most important grammar points to cover are: verb tenses, nouns, pronouns, modals, parts of a sentence, verbs, prepositions, gerunds, infinitives, articles, noun clauses, adjective clauses, adverb clauses, prepositional phrases, comparatives, superlatives, conjunctions, connectives. In addition, you will want to check your writing for: parallel structures, word order, word forms, word choice, and redundancy. Remember the main difference between the older exams and the new one is that you no longer have to choose the right answer to a multiple choice question, but you do have to choose the correct grammatical structures from your own mind to convey your ideas effectively and clearly, in speech and writing.

Vocabulary
In any language, having a rich vocabulary is a distinct advantage for academic, personal and professional success. In the case of the TOEFL iBT, having access to a large vocabulary will enable you to obtain a high score in every section reading, listening, speaking and writing. From a long-term point of view, as well, research has shown that students who wish to pursue university studies may need up to 10,000 words. For the TOEFL, you will want to concentrate on academic vocabulary as this is the main focus of the test. An excellent resource for this purpose is the Academic Word List (AWL), put together at the Victoria University of Wellington. They have identified 570 word families that are frequently used in academic texts. INDIRECT STRATEGIES There are many indirect strategies you can employ to enrich your vocabulary. You can read newspapers, magazines, textbooks, brochures, childrens books, and various types of literature. You can also listen to radio broadcasts, the news, interviews, documentaries, movies, conversations and audio books. If your intention is to improve your vocabulary, you will have to listen for new words, check their meaning, keep track of them in a vocabulary notebook and then try to use them in conversation or writing. DIRECT STRATEGIES Better still, is to combine this strategy with a specific vocabulary building program. You can allot even a short time a day, from as little as a few minutes to up to 30 to 60 minutes, and if you work steadily, the results will be impressive. There are a great number of vocabulary books available for ESL students, as well as specific ones to prepare you for the TOEFL iBT. VOCABULARY RESOURCES To identify the best vocabulary textbook for your needs, visit the local library or bookstore and browse through the wide range of books available. If you are an auditory learner, you may prefer to use an audio vocabulary building program, which you can listen to while commuting, jogging, etc. Whatever you choose, find the book or program whose style and system appeals to you. You could also ask the librarian, your ESL teacher or a friend for recommendations, but let the final choice be yours. Building your vocabulary takes time and you need to find a system you are comfortable with and will use consistently. One of the most recent publications in this area isFocus on Vocabulary by Diane and Norbert Schmitt. Intended for intermediate to advanced students, the book helps students to master vocabulary from the academic word list. It provides excerpts from college texts to enable students to reach a fuller understanding of new vocabulary in a variety of fields. This book is ideal if you are patient and have more time available to prepare for your test. If you prefer to work on targeted vocabulary, without long reading passages, you will like McGraw Hill's 400 Must-Have Words for the TOEFL. It covers a wide range of subject areas and each chapter can be completed in about half an hour. Yet another general series, published by Longman, is ETS North Star Building Skills for the TOEFL iBT, which is available at Beginner, Intermediate, andAdvancedlevels. Each chapter covers a different subject area and provides integrated and independent practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

VOCABULARY BY EMAIL There are also various companies which will send a word a day to your e-mail address, or even your cell phone, for free. These include Meriam Webster Online and Wordsmith. VOCABULARY GAMES In addition, many ESL websites offer a huge variety of vocabulary building games for all levels, which can provide you with additional pract

TOEFL iBT Pronunciation

On the speaking section of the TOEFL iBt, you will need to speak clearly enough that a native speaking examiner can understand what you are saying. You are not being asked to imitate an American or British accent. You are being judged on whether your speech is intelligible. For people to understand what you're saying, it is essential that you improve your pronunciation. Of course, everyone who speaks English has an accent, and all native speakers do as well. For example, the British sound different from the Americans, Indians, South Africans, Canadians, and Australians. You will, no doubt, have noticed this when you've watched television and movies. NATIVE-LANGUAGE INFLUENCE Nevertheless, when you, as a second-language learner speak English, you face special difficulties based on the influence of your native language. In some cases, these interferences can be so strong that English words sound like other words (rice can sound like lice, for example) and the meaning is lost or confused. According to the Speaking Rubrics developed by ETS, your speech will be assessed on whether it is well-paced, clear, and articulate, with effective intonation and rhythm, which does not obscure the message. TOEFL PRONUNCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS The best way to improve your pronunciation is in a pronunciation class or with a private teacher. Develop your ear by listening carefully to newscasts on CNN or BBC. You can also benefit greatly from using some of the English pronunciation programs on the market today, which will enable you to practice at home, while driving, etc.

TOEFL iBT - Support Skills

In addition to the primary and secondary skills, a wide variety of academic skills support your ability to ace the TOEFL. These include notetaking, summarizing, paraphrasing, outlining, mind-mapping, synthesizing, skimming, and scanning. The chart below shows you the many times you will need to utilize these support skills throughout the exam. Support Skills for the TOEFL iBT Support Skills Reading Listening Speaking Writing Note-taking Yes Yes No Yes Summarizing No Yes Yes Yes Paraphrasing Yes No Yes Yes Outlining No Yes Yes Yes Mind-mapping No Yes Yes Yes Synthesizing Yes Yes Yes Yes Skimming Yes No No No Scanning Yes No No No So make sure your TOEFL study plan covers each of these academic skills or you won't understand why you keep getting a low score on your practice tests. As in real academic life, all of these skills work together in an integrated way, to make you a more effective English student and communicator.

TOEFL iBT Skills - Note-taking

Effective note-taking is an essential skill, not only on the TOEFL, but also in academic life.Remember, just because you understand something, doesn't mean you will remember it. You need to write it down, especially when the information being given is extensive or complex. In colleges and universities, professors expand orally on the written material provided in textbooks and expect you to record and remember that information, for the sake of knowledge and future tests. Since this key skill is needed each day in the lecture room, it's best to develop effective strategies early on, while preparing for the TOEFL. All sections of the TOEFL require some degree of note-taking: 1. listening and writing to a greater extent 2. reading and speaking to a lesser extent Without learning how to note down and organize the information you are receiving, you will not be able to give an effective response or choose the correct answer. However, once you master this skill, you will discover how easy it becomes to answer questions correctly and/or comprehensively. NOTE-TAKING CHALLENGES As a second language learner, there are a number of special challenges you face when taking notes. First, you must understand what the professor is talking about. This covers three points: being able to hear, to understand his / her accent and to keep up with the pace of the lecture. Luckily, in spoken English, there tends to be more repetition and review than in writing. This gives you time and opportunity to note down the key points, even if you don't know the meaning of every word. Second, you must have an effective note-taking system which enables you to identify, record, and organize the main ideas and facts presented in the lecture. You will also need to know how to anticipate purpose, notice verbal cues, use abbreviations and symbols, connect relationships, compare and contrast, cause and effect. There are many such systems, which will be explained below. You will also need to learn or develop your own shorthand for commonly used expressions, to save time. Third, you need to utilize your notes to reconstruct the message of the lecture. This may include being able to write an essay based on your notes, answer multiple-choice questions, or deliver a short spoken response. NOTE-TAKING SKILLS Today, most universities and study skill centres recommend that you move away from the passive idea of taking notes to the more active perspective of making notes. A number of sub-skills are involved here: intellectual and graphic. Intellectual note-making skills include the following: to anticipate purpose, notice verbal cues, use abbreviations and symbols, connect relationships, compare and contrast, identify cause and effect, find the problem and solution, classify groups, define terms, and record sequence. Graphics note-making skills refer to the specific format or style you decide to adopt. This may vary depending on your learning style, your purpose, and your habits. Some options are: column form, Cornell method, paragraph form, concept map, mind map, Venn diagram, outline form and many others. An excellent book which explains how to make effective notes in almost any subject is Tools for Thought by Jim Burke. The ideas covered in his book will help you to organize your material, remember more easily and think more effectively - well beyond the TOEFL exam - into your academic and professional life. Some note-taking techniques are also explained in various TOEFL preparation guidebooks. For example,Barron's TOEFL iBT devotes an entire section to a number of academic skills required on the exam, including note taking, and also paraphrasing, summarizing and synthesizing. Other books, such asLearn to Listen - Listen to Learn by Roni S.

Lebauerprovide extensive and focused practice on listening and note-taking throughout the book. This resource is highly recommended for those students who find themselves struggling and lost due to weak listening skills. Of course, the best way to know which method to use is to experiment with various styles and see what is easiest and most comfortable for you. You can practice even while listening to the daily news.

TOEFL iBT Skills - Summarizing

Summarizing means condensing or expressing in short something you have read or heard. A summary should include the main points or ideas, key words or phrases, and crucial details. The objective is to write just enough not too much and not too little. Summarizing differs from paraphrasing in that paraphrasing involves restating all the information in your own words, while summarizing includes only the key ideas. SUMMARIZING ON THE TOEFL The Reading section of the TOEFL iBT usually includes a question asking for the main idea of the passage. It is important for you to know how to identify the answer which best expresses the core ideas, without going either off topic or too much in detail. Similarly, in the integrated writing section of the TOEFL iBT , you are usually asked to summarize what you have heard and read. You must explain how the reading passage either supports or differs from the spoken lecture. You have only 20 minutes to complete this task, which implies clearly that you will need to summarize. On the integrated speaking section of the TOEFL, two tasks require effective summarizing skills. In one task, you hear a conversation between two people and then are asked to describe what was discussed. In the other, you read a short passage, hear a short lecture and then have to summarize both, by comparing and contrasting them, restating the main points or something similar. SUMMARIZING STRATEGIES You will need the feedback of an experienced TOEFL teacher to know whether you are summarizing effectively, in speech and writing. It is difficult to do this on your own, as there is usually a fair amount of fine-tuning involved before the student gets it just right. That's because summarizing is not only a matter of using fewer words to sum up what you have heard or read. Its a matter of expressing the main ideas in fewer words. Barron's TOEFL iBT provides helpful techniques and practice exercises to learn how to summarize effectively. The related chapter shows you how to combine sentences, identify the topic sentence, find the major and minor points, and organize the information, while retaining the original emphasis. Similarly, Longman's NorthStar series Building Skills for the TOEFL iBT provides lots of practice, while addressing a wide range of subject areas.

TOEFL iBT Skills - Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing means restating what you have heard or read in your own words. The objective is to use different words to express the same ideas. You must resist the temptation to copy entire lines or long phrases from the original passage, or learn acceptable ways in which to do so. Copying the words of others is called plagiarism, and is looked upon very strictly in academic and professional environments. It's best to develop effective paraphrasing strategies today, which you can use confidently all your life. PARAPHRASING TECHNIQUES You will need to recognize a paraphrase or produce a paraphrase in all sections of the TOEFL.Barron's TOEFL iBT provides step-by-step techniques, which help you learn how to paraphrase in a number of ways. Their methods include substituting synonyms, using alternative grammatical forms, avoiding common paraphrasing difficulties, and citing expressions and ideas. Many other ESL writing books include similar sections on developing paraphrasing skills.

TOEFL iBT Skills - Outlining

Outlining is a linear method of developing, classifying and organizing thoughts, ideas and information. It enables you to plan anything by creating a hierarchy of information based on importance and relevance. Points are arranged in sections, and then subsections, moving from abstract to concrete. You can use outlining techniques in the Listening, Speaking, and Writing sections of the TOEFL iBT. For example, while listening to a conversation or lecture, you can keep track of the main points, sub-points, and examples. If your outline is accurate, you will be able to go back and find the answers to your questions. In the speaking section, when you have just 15 to 30 seconds to plan your response, you may also wish to use a quick outline to plan your response. The same is true while designing a plan for your essays in the independent and integrated tasks of the writing section. DEVELOPING OUTLINING SKILLS You can practice outlining skills by working from all kinds of materials textbooks, newspapers, and magazines. You can also listen to newscasts or audio books and jot down points in this way. By developing the outline, you will be able to reconstruct the structure of the written or spoken information. RESOURCES Most ESL writing textbooks should have exercises related to outlining. In addition, textbooks designed to improve English writing and study skills should include sections on developing outlining skills.

TOEFL iBT Skills - Mind-mapping

Mind-mapping is a type of creative graphic organizing technique, developed by British educationist and author Tony Buzan. It enables users to represent, integrate and connect large amounts of information around a central idea. Because it is holistic rather than linear, it enables you to utilize both sides of your brain and thus, unlock your brains potential. You can create mind maps to summarize the contents of a single lecture, or an entire yearlong course. Therefore, mind maps can be used effectively to study, summarize, organize, think, brainstorm, make decisions or solve problems, in personal, academic or professional life. TOEFL APPLICATIONS You can use mind mapping techniques to help you brainstorm ideas in the independent writing section of the TOEFL. Since you have only five minutes to plan your essay, you may find this technique faster and easier than traditional outlining methods. Creating a mind map will allow you to add ideas as they crop up, rather than in any particular order. You can then decide which position you wish to adopt and quickly check whether you have sufficient supporting ideas to develop your chosen viewpoint. You can also use this technique to make effective notes whenever listening is involved. RESOURCES The best way to learn mind mapping techniques is to read one of the many books on the subject by Tony Buzan himself, or others. These include: The Mind Map Book - by Tony Buzan How to Mind Map - by Tony Buzan Mind Mapping: How to Liberate Your Natural Genius - by Michael Gelb Understanding Mind Maps in a Week - by Steve Morris & Jane Smith Mind Maps for Kids Mind Maps for Kids: Rev Up for Revision

TOEFL iBT Skills - Synthesizing

The TOEFL iBT presents not only independent skill questions, but also integrated ones. These questions demand synthesizing skills, which involve creating something

new by combining two or more sources. What emerges as a result of synthesis is a new perspective, meaning, or idea. You will need to synthesize on the writing and speaking sections of the TOEFL iBT . For example, on the integrated writing question, you may be asked to read a short passage, listen to a short lecture and then write your response. This may necessitate comparing, contrasting, and giving your view on a topic. At times you are not asked for your opinion, so make sure you read the directions carefully. Similarly, in the speaking section, you may listen to two parties discussing a topic and then be asked to synthesize and add your opinion. Again, pay close attention to the exact wording of the question and do only what is asked of you. TOEFL iBT WRITING - SYNTHESIZING RESOURCES Barron's TOEFL iBT devotes 17 pages to the subject of synthesizing alone. You are given strategies to help you identify themes and connections, to decide which information to select from the two sources and to show you how to follow a plan so you complete the task within the given time limit. You can learn more about synthesizing by referring to TOEFL writing books and general English writing textbooks and workbooks.

TOEFL iBT - Skimming

Skimming is a reading technique that enables you to read information quickly to get the gist of an article or passage. You are simply trying to get a general idea of what is written. Based on your skimming, you may decide whether the information is relevant to your needs at the time. This is what we all do when we look over the newspaper, for example. Sometimes skimming is confused with scanning. Although scanning also involves reading quickly, the objective is different to look for specific information. While scanning, you may not read the whole text and will most likely stop reading as soon as you locate what you are looking for in the text. On the other hand, while skimming, you will probably read quickly all the way through to the end to gather all the main ideas. TOEFL iBT APPLICATIONS On the TOEFL iBT, you will need to use scanning techniques in the Reading, Writing, and Speaking sections of the exam. For example, in the reading section, you may be given anywhere from 3 to 5 passages, each of which is approximately 600-700 words in length, followed by 8 to 12 questions. The only way you can complete the tasks effectively is by skimming through the passage first and then going back to scan or locate the specific information you need to answer the questions. TOEFL iBT - SKIMMING RESOURCES All general ESL reading textbooks have exercises related to skimming. In addition, general English reading textbooks also devote chapters to developing this important skill, which everyone uses in every language. For specific resources, check our Amazon bookshop. All general ESL reading textbooks have exercises related to skimming. In addition, general English reading textbooks also devote chapters to developing this important skill, which everyone uses in every language.

TOEFL iBT - Scanning

Scanning involves reading quickly to locate specific information. We all use this technique when looking up a name in a phone directory, a word in a dictionary, or a job in the classified advertisements. We also scan while browsing through timetables, schedules, and programs. On the TOEFL, you will need to use scanning techniques throughout your exam. Whenever you have to go through a reading passage to locate a specific piece of information, check the meaning of a word or find a particular fact, you should use scanning techniques.

Scanning is similar to skimming in that it involves rapid reading. However, while skimming, we read through the entire passage or text to get the main ideas. In scanning, we usually read only until we find the information we are looking for. TOEFL iBT - SCANNING RESOURCES Most ESL reading textbooks contain exercises related to scanning. In addition, general English textbooks designed to improve reading skills should include sections devoted to developing scanning skills. For specific resources, check our bookshop.

TOEFL iBT Resources

One thing is for sure you are not alone in studying for the TOEFL iBT! There is an entire industry built up around the subject of test preparation, and many types of resources are available to you. In the beginning, it might all seem confusing, but essentially, you can look at three different methods to help you build up your skills for the TOEFL iBT: Independent Learning with Books & Software In-Class or Online Training A Combination of the Above INDEPENDENT TOEFL iBT LEARNING Independent learning means buying a TOEFL iBT guidebook and / or software and studying by yourself or with a partner. This is recommended for those who can study better alone and who are self-motivated. It is not recommended for those who tend to be social learners. However, all students will need to buy at least one or two good TOEFL guidebooks and work independently to build up their skills at home, in any case. IN-CLASS TOEFL TRAINING At some point, either in the beginning or along the way, most students choose to attend a TOEFL preparation class. This is a good decision and investment, as you can learn a lot from an experienced teacher and also from other students who may have appeared for the exam before. The classroom environment provides a support structure and sense of camaraderie, so you dont feel that you are only one who is being punished by having to appear for the exam! Additionally, certain skill areas, such as speaking and writing require the feedback of an experienced ESL teacher, as you cannot grade yourself or judge the quality of your answers. ONLINE TOEFL TRAINING Today, a variety of websites offer TOEFL preparation services online, which can be helpful if you are in a remote location, need the flexibility of studying at awkward hours and times, or are simply looking for additional practice. COMBINED LEARNING The preferred way to study for the TOEFL is a combination of the above studying independently at home, attending a live TOEFL class and perhaps receiving additional support through programs and exercises online. More than anyone else, you know yourself your strengths and your weaknesses in English and only you can put together the perfect mix of learning options to suit your budget, boost your confidence and develop your language and exam taking skills.

TOEFL iBT Books

Luckily, you don't need to prepare for the TOEFL in the dark! You have plenty of excellent guidebooks, produced by the world's leading educational publishing companies, which will help prepare you each step of the way. You will need to have regular access to a good general guidebook to do well on your exam, so it might be a good idea to purchase one or two. We provide you with recommendations on this website pick the one that you feel most confortable with.

Below, you will find a list of the most popular and important TOEFL preparation books. GENERAL TOEFL GUIDEBOOKS Barron's ETS The Delta's Key to the Next TOEFL iBT Official Guide to Generation TOEFL Test Internetthe New TOEFL Our Review Based Test iBT with CDOur Review ROM

Our Review

Cambridge Longman Preparation Preparation for Course for the TOEFL the TOEFL Test Test: Next Generation (iBT) with CD-ROM Our Review

Kaplan TOEFL iBT with CDROM

TOEFL iBT Book Review: ETS - The Official Guide to the New TOEFL iBT The Official Guide to the New TOEFL iBT with CD-ROM is the main guidebook published by the creators of the TOEFL test, Educational Testing Services. So presumably, it provides you withthe most authentic information about the test and also, lots of good advice about how to succeed in the TOEFL. Generally, the level of the exercises in the book is quite high, so it enables you to judge the language level you will need to attain. After looking through it, if you feel intimidated, go off and study using one of the easier guidebooks such as Longmans, Barron's, or even Delta. Then, you can return to this book again when you have raised your language level. The most important advantage of this book is the insight it gives you into how the test is scored, particularly in the speaking and writing sections. The accompanying audio CD provides listening passages and sample speaking responses, which can be very helpful to students. The book itself is divided into 6 sections: test information, reading, listening, speaking, writing and a writers handbook. TEST INFORMATION The introductory section tells you about the main features of the TOEFL, how the iBT is different from previous tests, registration information, some general tips and faqs. TOEFL READING The reading section sets out the ten types of reading questions and gives you ideas on how to best answer each one. There are several practice reading tests with answers and explanations. In general, the level of the reading passages is quite high, so again, you might want to try these exercises closer to the date of your exam, to get a realistic idea of the level of the test.

TOEFL LISTENING The Listening section sets out the nine types of listening questions you will encounter on your test, and gives you strategies to raise your score. It provides a useful, extensive list of subjects areas covered in the listening passages, along with several practice tests. TOEFL SPEAKING This section explains the format of the six TOEFL iBT speaking questions, provides sample responses and rater evaluations. The many practice exercises in this section are at a level anyone can try to get a feel for whats involved. TOEFL WRITING The Writing section includes the official Scoring Rubric used by raters when they check your writing tasks. There are also sample scored responsesalong with raters comments. These are extremely beneficial as they will give you an understanding of the various elements you must keep in mind to produce a high-scoring answer. Here, you will also find over sixteen pages of writing topics, used in previous versions of the TOEFL. Since the topics on the TOEFL iBT are very similar to these, you should definitely read through this list and practice writing essays on these subjects. At the least, you should make outlines of how you would answer some of these questions. WRITER'S HANDBOOK The last section of the book provides you with a review of grammar, mechanics, usage, style, organization and development. Common errors in grammar, sentence structure and word choice are analyzed. Additionally, the handbook gives you examples of different types of essays and guidelines for revision, editing and proofreading. So, overall, our advice is to use this book while preparing for your test and refer to it often to see where you stand.

TOEFL iBT Book Review:

Deltas Key to the Next Generation TOEFL Test
Deltas Key to the Next Generation TOEFL Test is one of the most popular TOEFL guidebooks on the market. Many ESL schools rely on this book to form the core of their test preparation curriculum, because it is socomprehensive. One of the reasons for Delta's popularity among ESL teachers is the fact that each of the four main sections of the book isorganized very systematically, with a steady build-up of the academic and language skills required to do well on the test. The book is extremely user-friendly and is also ideal for self-study. In terms of level, though the book claims to be advanced, in reality, most students who are considering doing this exam can deal with the moderately challenging exercises, without feeling overwhelmed. The layout of the book is also easy on the eye, and students don't feel hemmed in with too much material on a single page. The book also provides hundreds of tips and strategies to help students cope with each section of the exam. Four full-length exams are included, along with hundreds of practice units.

According to the publisher, the book provides enough material to cover about 15 weeks of study. A detailed study plan for 75 hours of learning is included, which can assist students working on their own as well as teachers. The only disadvantage is that the ten audio CDs which go with the book usually need to be bought separately.

Online TOEFL iBT Training

Today, a wide variety of online TOEFL training options exist for ESL / EFL students. This is helpful to those in remote locations, those who need to study at awkward hours, those who enjoy online learning and those who are simply looking for something more. Generally, online TOEFL training sites offer options to: complete practice TOEFL iBT tests rehearse TOEFL iBT Speaking questions submit practice TOEFL iBT Writing samples develop your vocabulary strengthen your grammar In general, studying TOEFL online is an effective, additional way to bolster your English language skills. Of course, as in all online transactions, you should exercise caution before paying for such services, and try to find out as much as possible about the company before making any payments. You can also watch free lessons online. engVidprovides free English lesson videos, and also allows you to interact with the teachers. They have a number of specific TOEFL videos.

TOEFL Attitude
To do well on the TOEFL iBT, you should try to develop an attitude of relaxed confidence. Of course, this doesn't arise by itself. It grows within you as you take specific and positive actions to prepare yourself in all ways academically, mentally, physically, and psychologically. You are the one in charge of your attitude! Do whatever you need to do to help yourself, just as you would advise your best friend or younger brother or sister. If you have been a good student in the past, draw upon these positive memories to boost your self-confidence. Similarly, if you have not done well until now, remind yourself that at any moment, your life can change for the better, once you decide to make it so. Read through and implement the extensive test preparation and test anxiety reduction techniques included on this website to help you achieve your goals. As the famous saying goes, Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're usually right. Make sure you prove the best about yourself, to yourself, today and always.